400 arrested outside U.S. Capitol while protesting money in politics

'We believe this is the people's house, and Congress should be responsive to the people. We need to protect voting rights,' said a spokesman for Democracy Spring.

ByEric Beech and Daniel Trotta, ReutersApril 11, 2016

U.S. Capitol Police move in to make arrests as voting rights reform demonstrators stage a sit-in at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, April 11, 2016, urging lawmakers to get money out of the political process.

Police arrested those who sat on the stairs of the East Front of the Capitol, the seat of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Democracy Spring traces its roots to the end of the Occupy Los Angeles movement, and its rise coincides with the presidential campaigns of Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Donald Trump, both of whom speak against the influence of campaign contributions on politicians.

While most of the groups involved are associated more with Democrats than Republicans, Callahan said the group was nonpartisan.

"We see populism on the rise on both sides of the spectrum. Americans are sick and tired of their politicians being bought and paid for," Callahan said.